Printing machines



Oct. 30, 1962 w. TQGOLLWITZER 3,060,849

PRINTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 28, 1955 Int/enor Walter Z' Go/lwfer Zl/afa ad @AMW W. T. GOLLWITZER Oef. 30, 1962PRINTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IT m M ha Oct. 30, 1962 w. T.GoLLwlTzER 3,060,849

PRINTING MACHINES original Filed Feb. 28, -1955 s sheets-sheet s YUnited States Patent 3,060,849 PRINTNG MACMES Walter T. Gollwitzer,Euclid, Ghio, assignor to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation,Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application Feb. 28,1955, Ser. N 490,836, now Patent No. 2,868,115, dated Jan. 13, 1959.Divided and this application Sept. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 764,164

5 Claims. (Cl. 1411-235) This application is a division of my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 490,836, filed February 28, 1955, now U.S. PatentNo. 2,868,115. i This invention relates to printing machines for produc-1ng business instruments and the like and more particularly to thecontrol of the operation of a printing arrangement in such a machine andthe orientation of the busineSsinstruments or the like to be printedrelative to such a printlng arrangement.

ln `my application, Serial No. 201,102, led December 16, 1950, nowPatent No. 2,710,406, patented lune 7, 1955, I have disclosed a printingmachine for producing business instruments such as bills, checks,notices, and the like in the form of so-called tabulating cards. Theproduction of such business instruments in the aforesaid machine,including the individual printing and punching thereof, is under controlof individual printing and control devices that are advanced one by onefrom a supply magazine in the machine, into which such devices areintroduced, first to -a sensing station and from thence to a printingstation in the machine. Such devices each include a frame having aprinting plate carried thereon, and these printing plates are eachprovided with embossed type characters which are utilized at a printingstation in the machine for printing the business instruments with dataincluding numerical amounts and particularly names and addresses as Wellas other identifying data that may pertain to the respective persons orcompanies to which `such printing devices are individually allocated.These same printing and control devices also each include an area on theframe adjacent the printing plate whereat there is provided physicallyrepresented information in the form of openings or the like punchedtherein in accordance with a predetermined code. This coded informationon each printing and ycontrol device is sensed at the sensing stationand is then relayed to a translator at a punching station in the machinehaving control over a set of punches which are thereupon set up forpunching corresponding information in the form of openings in thebusiness instrument that is allocated to the printing and control devicewhich underwent sensing.

The business instruments that are thus to be produced under the controlof the printing and control devices are stacked in an uncompleted format one or more supply magazines in the machine, and in the production ofthese instruments in the `aforesaid machine the rst operation entailedis that of feeding the tabulating cards to the aforementioned punchingstation where the cards are so positioned that certain areas thereof areprovided with openings corresponding to the aforementioned physicallyrepresented information carried by the individual printing and controldevices. After the punching of a tabulating card has been performed, thecard is then passed to the printing station where a face thereof isprinted by and from the type characters carried by the relative printingand control device, and with the completion of the printing and controldevice.

-As explained in the aforesaid application, of which this application isa division, after the business instruments have been punched and printedas aforesaid, in a machine such as that referred to hereinabove, suchinstruments pass into one or more collecting hoppers suitably disposed"ice and arranged to receive the same. Moreover, and prior to thepassage of at least certain of the business instruments to a hopperadapted to receive the same, it is often necessary to perform a furtherprinting operation thereon at a selected position thereon and `So to dois an object of the present invention.

Business instruments which are to have a further printing operationperformed thereon may be negotiable instruments, such as checks drawn ona bank, and dividend checks issued by a corporation are a specificexample of checks of this nature. In such circumstances the furtherprinting operation referred to above may be the imprinting of avalidating signature on the checks. Such an imprinting operation may beexpeditiously effected by resort to a printing couple embodying a platenand a printing cylinder bearing a plate arranged to imprint thesignature or the like. In such an arrangement it is particularlyimportant to avoid offsetting an impression from the plate onto theplaten and to enable this to be effected in an efiicient and positivemanner is another object of this invention, and a related object is toinsure proper orientation of the impression by the printing coupledoneach instrument to be imprinted thereby.

Further objects of this invention are to so arrange an apparatus towhich business instruments in the form of individual cards or the likeare advanced seriatim that functioning of the printing couple `or thelike therein employed to make further impressions on businessinstruments or the like as aforesaid will be effected only when aninstrument or the like is available to have an impression made thereon;to effect operation of a detector to determine such availability (orunavailability) of an instrument or the like to effect operation of anarrangement which will arrest an instrument or the like in predeterminedrelation to the printing couple or the like and thereby insure properorientation of an impression effected by the printing couple or the likeon the instrument or the like when such is released by the arrangementelfective to arrest the same; to effect a single operation of theprinting couple or the like for each instrument to be imprinted thereby;and to insure accurate and positive feeding of the business instrumentsor the like to and from the printing couple or the like.

It has been observed that the foregoing and kindred objects of thisinvention may best be realized by operating all, or at least some, ofthe aforesaid detecting, arresting, printing and feeding arrangementsfrom a common source of power and so to do is an important object ofthis invention, and a related object of this invention is to effect asingle cycle of operation of the arrangements operated from a commonsource as aforesaid for each business instrument or the like to beimprinted by the printing arrangement.

`Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by Way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatI now `consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplatedapplying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodyingthe same or equiv- -alent principles may be used and structural changesmay be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a selected embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drive arrangement employed in theillustrated embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic perspecitve view of the printingarrangement of this invention and elements related thereto;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the printing arrangement and related elements;

FIG. 5 is a vertical elevational View taken substantially on lthe line 55 on FIG. 4; and Y FIG. 6 is a'fragmentary side elevational view. Y

The form of my invention `asillustrated in the accompartying drawings isarranged to receive business instruments or the like that have beenprepared, asrby being punched and imprinted, in a machine such asdisclosed in my aforesaid application Serial No. 201,102. In suchcircumstances the instruments are carried on feed belts from printingstation in the machine and are discharged therefrom into the form of myinvention illustrated in the `accompanying drawings which constitutes aninstrument or card receiving station generally indicated by 170A -in thedrawings. It is Ito he understood, however, that the present inventionmay be used with any machine or arrangement that is of such nature as tobe effective to feed business instruments or the like in the form ofcards, sheets or the like to the receiving station 170A. i

Business instruments or the like as aforesaid advanced to the receivingstation 170A are iirst passed to in-feeding rollers including a pair ofupper rollers as 30011 arranged in spaced apart relation onV a shaft SMUand which respectively cooperate with lower feed rollers disposedtherebelow and which are mounted on a shaft 301L. In the presentinstance, a gear 305 Yis fast on the Y Yshaft 301L and is adapted to bedriven by a gear (not shown) rneshed therewith and which may be a partof a gear-train that is driven by the machine or arrangement with whichthe receiving station 170A is associated. In any event, suitable meansare afforded to be effective to constantly rotate the shaft 301L withwhich the functioning parts of the station 170A are to be operative.

Extending forwardly from the feed rollers 300U is a glide plate 306supported on spaced apart cross bars 307 between the side panels 191Aand 192A, and at the end yof this guide plate 306 opposite the feedrollers 300U are a pair rof 'feed rollers 309U carried on -a shaft 310U.Arranged below' the feed rollers 30911 on a shaft 310L, FIG. 2, are acorresponding pair of feed-rollers 309L which normally engage the feedrollers 309U. The Yfeed rollers thus described which are at either endof the guide plate 306 have the respective bites thereof aligned withthe plane of the guide plate 306, and the shafts 3011] and 310U arepreferably spaced so that the leading end of a business instrument suchas a card is passed by the irl-'feeding rollers to the rollers 30911Vand 309L justas the trailing end of such a eardor the like passesbeyond the in-feeding rollers.

The shafts 301U and 31`0U are each supported for vertical play so thatthe upper rollers carried thereby may be relieved of the lower feedrollers paired therewith when a card is passed to the bite thereof. Inthis instance, such play is afforded byrotatably supporting one end ofthese two shafts in arms as 315 pivoted at one end on pins as 316extended inwardly of the side panel 191A of Ithe receiving station 170A.YTensioned on the shanks of the pins 316 are torsion springs as 3165having the free ends disposed onthe corresponding ends of the shafts 1UY Vadapted to receive the cards or the like whichV are not to pass alongthe guide plate 306 to thereafter be imprinted.

K 1 Devilector lingers 321 are associated with the Vin-feeding Yrollers, and Ithese deilectors 'are fastened inV spaced rela- Ytion on arock shaft 322 which extends transversely between the side panels 191Aand 192A below the end portion of the guide plate 306 that is adjacentthe in-feeding rollers. As will be seen VAin FIG. 1, these deilectorfingers are normally in -a released position with the narrow top edgesthereof aligned with .the plane of the guide plate 306 inwardly of theirl-feeding rollers so as to normally direct a card that is in the biteof these rollers forwardly along the guide plate 306. Y

An upstanding pin 323 is fixed to the yrock shaft 322 adjacent one endthereof, and the upper end of this pin is Yengaged by one end of acontrol link-325 disposed at right angles to the axis of the rock` shaft322. The control link 32S when pulled to the left as viewed in FIG. 1elevates'the deflector nngers 321 out of normal position so as to blockolf the guide plate 306. rlhis action is attained by connecting thecontrol link at the end opposite .the pin 323 to the armature 328A ofarsolenoid 32S which is adapted to be energized to elevate the deilectorngers 321 just prior to a card not to be imprinted being passed to thein-feeding rollers from the machine with which the reeciver 170A isassociated. It`will be appreciated that the de'lector fingers 321 inelevated position direct the cards not to be imprinted to the cardstacker 320. In the present instance it is contemplated that onlyalternate of the cards or the like are to be imprinted. To this end,suitable timing means, such as a cam-operated switch (not shown) may beprovided to be effective to closerthe circuit to the solenoid 328asalternate cards are advanced to the receiver 170A and resultantly onlyalternate cards are adavnced -to be imprinted in the Vprintingarrangement that is described hereinafter. Moreover, it is to beunderstood that several card stackers may be provided to receiveselected or predetermined cards passed to a card receiver as 170A,arrangements of this kind being shown and describedV in my co-pendingapplication of which this application is adivision. ,y Y Further in thisregard, however, forwardly of the feed rollers 309, is-a stationRS, FIG.l, where there may be llocated a second guide plate like the guide plate306 having a card stacker therebelow lfor thereceipt of a card whichwould be a duplicate of -a card like that passed to the stacker 320,this particular arrangement being described in my aforesaid co-pendingapplication. VIn this instance, vinasmuch -as only thereceiving station170A is disclosed the station RS is by-passed, but if, for example,three .cards, rather than alternate cards, are to Vbe handled by thereceiving station 170A then there will be deflector fingers associatedwith the bites between the feed rollers 309U and 309L, and these deectorfingers will be controlled in the same way as that described in myaforesaid co-pending application where multiple card receiver areafforded in a card receiving station.

A lock or latch 329 is afforded to hold the deectors 321 in elevatedposition andtherefore, Vthe details of this lock need not be described,but the trigger of this latch, FIG. 1, includes a toe 329T which engagesthe end of the arm 315 opposite the pivot therefor so as to be triggeredto release the latch when a card as C is passed by theelevatedrdeflectors and the in-feeding rollers as'300U on to the stacker320.

Mention wasmade above of the fact that the station RS is by-passed inthe receiving stationY 170A. Thus, a relatively narrow guide plate 330'is extended forwardly from the feed rollers 309U, Vand this guide platehas a Yflat upper face for supporting a card passed off the guide plate306 by the feed means including the rollers 300U and 309U. The guide bar330 is but loosely supported in position, and Vthus is adapted to beremovedV from the station RS in order that the receiving station 170Amay handle three cards, as was mentioned above or, as described ingmyaforesaid co-pending application, to'enable a card turn-over orreversing means to be positioned at the station RS.

Forwardly of the guideV barrsso is `a guide plate 221C and the guide bar330, when in place, spans the station vRS-between the Vadjacent ends ofthe` guide .plates 306 and 221C. At the end ofthe guide plate 221C whichfaces in the direction of the guide plate 306 are spaced apart pairs ofupper and lower feed rollers 333U and 333L, FIGS. l and 3, whichnormally are engaged one with the other so as to receive the leading endof a card fed along the guide bar 330 prior to the trailing end of thiscard passing beyond the feeding rollers 309U and 3091,. The rollers 333Uand 333L are carried on respective shafts 334U and 334L, FIG. 3, whichare in parallel vertical alignment 'I'he upper of these shafts, 334U, isarranged for vertical play as will be described, and the lower shaft isjournalled for rotation in bearing members mounted inboard on the sidepanels 191A and 192A. On the upper shaft 334U is a gear 335 driven by agear 336 carried on the lower shaft 334L, and the lower shaft inaddition carries a sprocket 337 by which the shaft 334L and the gear 336are driven as will be described.

Preferably, there is afforded a relatively long leaf spring 340 attachedat one end to the shaft 301U as shown in FIG. l, this spring extendingthe length of and resting on the guide way afforded by the guide plate306 and the guide bar 330 so as to hold the cards advancing forwardlythrough the receiving station 170A down on the guide plate 306 and theguide bar 330. In addition, a pair of leaf springs 341 and 342 arearranged at either side of the leaf spring 340 on the guide plate 306,and these two springs are attached at one end in spaced relation on ashaft 345 extended between the side panels at the input end of thereceiving station 170A, spacer collars as 346 on the shaft 345 servingto maintain springs 341 and 342 in the desired spaced relation to assurethat an address card on the guide plate 306 is accurately positioned forinfeeding to the rollers 309U and 309L.

As will be described, a business instrument which is to be iniprinted isfed along the guide plate 221C, FIG. l, first to a positioning meansthat temporarily halts this card in its forward travel along the guideplate 221C to accurately position this card for the printing operation,and after an imprint has been performed this card is then fed to a finalreceiving hopper such as designated as the mailing hopper in myaforesaid co-pending application.

VThus, at the end of the guide plate 221C opposite the feed rollers 333Uand 333L are a set of upper feed rollers 350U, FIG. l, carried in spacedrelation on a shaft 351U, and mated with these rollers are acorresponding set of lower feed rollers 350L, FIG. 4, that are carriedon a shaft 351L to normally engage the rollers 350U. The feed rollers350L at the end of the guide plate 221C opposite the feed rollers 333Uand 333L are adapted to advance the leading end of each businessinstrument or card or the like on the guide plate 221C against a deectorand into a nal hopper, as aforesaid, this occurring, of course, just asthe trailing end of the card on the guide plate 221C passes beyond thebites between the feed rollers 333U and 333L.

The shaft 351U, FIG. l, carrying the out-feeding rollers 350U issupported between the side panels 191A and 192A for vertical play in thesame way that was described in connection with the shafts 301U and 310U,and hence the details of this arrangement will not be repeated. Theshaft 351L carries a sprocket 353, FIG. 4, which is driven in a Way tobe described.

Intermediate the ends of the guide plate 221C is an opening as 221A,FIG. 4, that is afforded to enable the downwardly disposed face of eachbusiness instrument or card or the like passed onto the guide plate 221Cto be imprinted. The printing means in this instance includes amutilated printing cylinder 360, FIGS. 3 and 4, adapted to carry on theperiphery thereof either a narrow arcuate printing plate bearing asignature or a like printing plate bearing a date or other desired data,such plates being interchangeable on the printing cylinder 360 andadapted to be carried thereon in a conventional Way.

The printing cylinder 360 is carried on a shaft 361 having at one end amale dog 364 adapted to drivingly engage a female dog 365 carried on adrive shaft 366 which represents the driven element of a one revolutionclutch 370 as will be described.

The shaft 366 which carries the female dog 365 is supported for rotationin a bearing mounted in the side panel 191A and is positioned thereby toreceive the dog 364 carried by the printing cylinder shaft. At one endof the printing cylinder shaft 361 there is a handle 375 having a boss375B which carries a bearing 376 in which the end of the printingcylinder shaft opposite the dog 364 may be supported for rotation. Thus,the dog 364, the printing cylinder, the printing cylinder shaft and thehandle elements represent a unitary structure that may be removably setand locked in the mounting plate 295, FIG. 1, that depends from theouter face of the side panel 192A. The mounting panel 295 and the sidepanel 192A include registered openings as 295A in which the boss 375Bcarried by the handle 375 is adapted to seat with the dogs 364 and 365in driving engagement as shown in FIG. 4.

The printing cylinder 360, when in the operative position shown in FIG.4, and in broken lines in FIG. 3, engages a rubber ink roller 378, FIG.3, supported for rotation therebelow. Supported for rotation below therubber ink roller and engaged therewith is a brass distributing roller379, and supported below the brass roller and in engagement therewith isa felt distributing roller 380. Below the felt cylinder 380 is an inkpad 383, is journalled in openings provided in the lower ends of a pairof arms 386, and these arms at the upper ends are fast on a rock shaft388. The arms 386 which carry the ductor roller are spring urged tonormally hold the ductor 385 against the felt roller 330. At one end ofthe rock shaft 388 is an upstanding arm 390 which carries at the upperend thereof a follower 391 adapted to be engaged by a keystone cam 395mounted on the driven shaft 366 of the one revolution clutch 370, sothat for each cycle of engagement of this clutch the rise 395K on thecam 395 is effective on the follower 391 to oscillate the ductor 385from the felt roller 380 to the supply of ink in the pan 383, theink-laden ductor returning to spring-biased normal position engaged withthe felt roller when the dwell 395D of the cam is presented to thefollower 391. In the manner, the ductor is operative each time theclutch 370 engages to relay a quantity of ink from the ink pan to thefelt roller included in the ink train.

Supported over the opening 221A in the guide plate 221C where theprinting cylinder 360 is positioned is a platen roller 398. The platenroller is carried by a shaft 399, and the opposite ends of the shaft 399are supported for rotation in the side panels 191A and 192A as shown inFIG. 1.

The ink train including the three rollers 378, 379 and 380 is driven bythe brass roller 379. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the brass roller379 is carried on a shaft 400 supported for rotation in bearings as 401mounted in the side panels 191A and 192A. One end of the shaft 400 isdisposed outwardly of the side panel 191A, and mounted on this end ofthe shaft 400 is a sprocked 403, FIG. 5, adapted to be driven by aconstantly running chain 405. The drive chain 40S is played around asprocket 406 that is carried on the end of the shaft 334L extendedoutwardly of the side panel 191A, as shown in FIG. 4. The shaft 3'34L isadapted to be driven by a sprocket 337, in a way to be described, andhence the sprockets 337 and 406 derive constant motion from a commonmeans.

Spaced forwardly of the sprocket 406 is a sprocket 409 about which thechain 405 is also passed, and this sprocket is carried on a sleeve 410,FIG. 4, mounted concentrically on the driven shaft 366 of the clutch370. However, the sleeve 410 is rotatably supported independently of thedriven shaft 366 so as to be free running with respect thereto, andmoreover represents the driving element of the clutch 370. The chain 405is tensioned by an idler sprocket 412 carried Yon a stub shaft 413positioned for rotation between the sprockets 406 and 469.

It is desirable that the feed rollers as 300U and 309U being driven in aone-to-one Yratio at a' relatively high speed and that the card to beimprinted be advanced through the printing station at a reduced speed,preferably at about one-third speed. Such is attained by reducing gearsto be described. Thus, as is apparent in FIGS. 1 and 2, one Vend of theshaft SML which carries the driven gear 305 extends outboard of the sidepanel 191A, and on this end of the shaft 391L that is disposed outwardlyof the side panel 191A is a main drive sprocket 425. Porwardly of thesprocket 425 is a sprocket 426 which is also outboard of the side panel`191A, and played about the sprockets 425 and426 is a chainr427, thesedrive means being shrouded by a cover plate 430, FIG. 1. The sprocket426 is carried at one end of the shaft 310L, FIGS. 2 and 6, and itis theshaft 3in1, which ,carries a setV of feed rollers SML. VThe feed rollers309L rotate counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 6, and drivingly engageYthe upper feed rollers 309U, so that the .feed rollers which are ateither end of the guide plate 366 are driven in a one-to-one ratio at arelatively high speed.

Inboard of the side panel 191A, the shaft 313L carries a Y small piniongar 435 `which rotates therewith, and Ythe Vgear 435 is meshed with alarge spur gear 436 carried on a stub shaftV 437 supported at the lowerend of a gear cluster arm 440. The arm 440 at the upper end is mountedon a pin extending inwardly of the side panel 191A as shown in FIG. 1. tn Y vKeyed to the spur gear 436 is a small pinion gear 442,

Y and this gear is meshed with a large spur'gear 443 carried on a sleeve443A mounted concentric tothe shaft V316L inwardly of the gear 435. AttheV end of the sleeve 443A opposite the gear 443 isa sprocket 445 andthe arrangement is such that the sprocket 445 is driven at Ie- Aducedspeed as aforesaid so as to slow down the speed of a card to beprinted.'

The sprocket 4457is in alignment with the sprocket 337 described Vaboveas carried on the shaft 334L. A chain 446 is played about the sprocket445 at one end at the other end is played about the sprocket 353, FIG.4, which is carried on the shaft 351L, the two passes of the chain 446Vengaging the sprocket 337 on shaft 334L intermediate the sprockets 445and 353. As was described above, there is a sprocket 406'on the shaft334L outjwardly of the side panel 191A, this sprocket driving the chain405 which in Vturn rotates constantly the sprocket 409 representing inpart the driving element of the clutch 370. v

The one-revolution clutch 370 is of a known kind, being described inprevious of my patents particularly United States Patent No. 2,296,277,patented Septem- V Y' ber 22, 1942, and hence the operating details ofthe clutch 370 need not be set forth herein. It may be pointed out,

Y however, that normally the driving element of the clutch 370 includingthe sprocket 409 is disengaged from the driven element of the clutchwhich includes the shaft 366. This disengaged relation is maintained byan in-y Yported at one end in the side panel 191A and at the oppositek`end in a vertically disposed mounting plate 456 supported outboard ofthe siderpanel 191A as shown in FIG. 4.

The arm 450 holding the'clutch 370`disengaged is controlled by anarmature 460A of a solenoid 460 which is mounted between the panels 191Aand the mounting plate 456. As shown in FIG. 5, the -control'arm 450 isinclined substantially in a plane, and the solenoid 460 is positioned sothat the armature 460A is at right angles to the control arm 450. Thelower edge of the armature 460A is provided with a notch 460N in whichthe upper end of the control arm 453 is seated. A spring 460s isattached at one Vend to a pin 462 mounted in and extending outwardly ofthe side panel 191A. The opposite end of the spring 460s is anchored toVa pin 465 carried by the armature 469A, and this pin projectsdownwardly through the armature 460A into an elongated opening 467afforded in a platef468'that is rigid with the Vsolenoid housing, thisopening 467 serving to define the extent of downward movement of thearmature 460A when the solenoid is energized. Y Y Y When the solenoid`460 is energized, the armature 460A is pulled downwardly as viewed inFIG. 5 and is effective to pivot the control arm 450 clockwise to liftthe cam edge 450C olf the pin 45M whereupon the driven element of theclutch 370 including the shaft 366 isV coupled to the constantlyrotating driving element of the clutch 370 including the sprocket 409.As a consequence, shaft 366 is driven in a` counterclockwise directionas viewed in FIG. 3. 'l

The solenoid 460 is energized in a way to be described for one cycle ofclutch revolution then is deenergized in the same cycle toirelease thecontrol arm 450 so that the control arm 450 which includes the camedget45C is released to again rest on the rotating sleeve 450S, and atthe end of the single 360rotation of the shaft 366 the pinV 379?re-engages the cam edge `456C to uncouple the clutch 370. Hence, foreach Vengagement of the clutch 371i, the keystone cam 395, VFIG. 3 isturned through 360 together with the printing cylinder 360 on the shaft366, and as will be recognized from the description to followtheprinting cylinder in the upper pass thereof is parallel with theforward advancing movement of the card at printing position that is -tobe printed with a signature or the like thereby, the card thus printedbeing squeezed between the printing cylinder 360 and the free'runningplaten 398.

The solenoid 460 is energiJedY through a normally open switch SW, FIGS.land 3, which is positioned above the guide plate 221C forwardly of theplaten roller 39S,

Y the Vswitch SW being carried by a mounting plate 470,

FIG. 1, attachediat one end to the side panel 192A. The passage of thecard to be printed on to the guide plate 221C is sensed prior to thiscard arriving at printing posi- -tion beneath the platen 398, and thissensing operation is effective to close the switch SW and energize thesolenoid 460. Thus, normally reposed in the opening 221B in the guideplate 221C is aY sensing finger'Y 472, FIGS. Vl and 3, which is adaptedin the present instance to be lifted or actuated by the leading edge ofthe card that is to -be printed passingalong the guide plate 221C beyondthe feed rollers as 333U. The sensing finger 472 is carried at one endof an arm 473 whichat the opposite end is fast 'on a collar 473C whichin turn is loosely mounted for pivotal movement on a'switchV control'rock shaft 474 adapted to control opening andclo'sing of the switch SW.The control shaft 474 for the switch SW is arranged at right angles'tothe arm 473 carrying the sensing finger V472 andrin this instmce issupported at either end in bearing lugs as 475 supported in spacedrelation on the YinnerY Wall of the side panel 192A.

Spaced from the collar 473C7is'another collar 486 on the shaft 474, andthis collar is fixed to the shaft 474 as Yby a set screw 4865. Thecollars 473C and 486 are flexibly coupled as by a torsion spring 145558concentric on the'shaft 474 between the two collars, so that when thesensing finger 472 is lifted and the collar 473C is turned,

the spring 4858 turns also and s effective on the collar 486 to turn theswitch control shaft 474 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3.

Fast to the end of the control shaft 47'4 adjacent the switch SW as by aset screw 4595 is a collar 489, and this collar `481) carries a controlnger 481 positioned below and normally disengaged from a switch arm 432which when lifted by the finger 483i closes the switch SW. Thus, whenthe control shaft 474 is rotated clockwise by a card as C passing thesensing finger 472, the control finger 481 is eective on the switch arm432 to close the switch SW which thereupon energizes the solenoid `469to engage the clutch 374).

The collar 473C carrying the sensing linger includes a dog 473D mated inan enlarged notch 477N provided in a collar 477 that is fast on theshaft 474 as by a set screw 477S. This affords lost motion for thecollar 473C manifest in the dog 473D turning within the notch 477N, andenables the arm 473 to be lifted in the event a card were to be jammedunder the sensing nger 472.

When the card that tripped the sensing finger 472 passes beyond theopening 221B in a way to be described the sensing finger is released tonormal position, switch SW is opened to de-energize the solenoid 460 andthe control arm 45% for the clutch 370 engages the clutch stop pin 3701to disable the clutch at the end of the same cycle wherein the clutchwas engaged.

As was mentioned above, the card on the guide plate 221C that is to beimprinted is to be momentarily halted in its forward advancing movement,this occurring just after the leading end of the card trips the sensingnger 472 and just prior to the arrival of this card at the printingstation afforded by the printing cylinder 360 and its cooperating platen398. This is attained by positioning a stop finger 499 in the portion ofthe guide way afforded by the guide plate 221C between the sensingfinger 472 and the platen roller 398. The stop finger 490 includes ablade 490B normally elevated sufficiently above the guide plate 221C toenable a card to be fed along the guide plate 221C therebelow. At oneend, the stop finger 499 is formed with a depending lug 492, FIG. 3,having a sleeve 493 thereon fixed to a rock shaft `495 which extendslongitudinally of the side panel 191A, this rock shaft being supportedin bearing lugs as 495A extending inwardly from the side panel 191Asimilar to the way in which the bearing lugs as 475 support the shaft474. Held to the rock shaft 495 as by a set screw `497s is a block 497.A tension spring 496 is anchored at one end to a pin on the side panel191A and at the other end this spring is attached to the end of theblock 497 adjacent the side panel 191A as shown in FIG. 3 so as tonormally position the rock shaft 495 with the stop nger 490 elevatedabove the guide plate 221C.

At the end of the rock shaft 495 away from the arm 497 is a dependingarm 505 formed with a collar 568 that is fastened to the rock shaft 495.At its lower end, the arm 505 carries a cam follower in the form of aroller 510 which is positioned by the spring 496 to be within the pathof the rise 395K on the cam 395. The leading end of the rise 395K on thecam 395 is normally removed but a slight distance from the follower 510as can be seen in FIG. 3 which is the condition where the stop finger490 is biased in elevated position. The left end of shaft 334U, FIG. l,is carried by a lever 500 pivoted on a pin 501 mounted in the side plate191A. The lever 590 has a toe 503 engaged with the underside of theblock 497 whereby the block 497 and its spring 496 are effectivenormally to apply downward tension to the shaft 334U.

When the -sensing finger 472 is elevated by the leading end of a cardpassing over the opening 221B in the guide plate 221C, the onerevolution clutch 370 engages, and practically simultaneously with this,the rise 395K on the cam 395 wipes the cam follower 510. Such engage- Al0 ment of the cam with its follower 510 pivots the arm 505 slightly inthe direction of the side plate 191A, and the rock shaft 495 as viewedin FIG. 3 is turned in a clockwise direction against the return actionof the spring 496. The stop finger 490 accordingly is lowered in toengagement with the guide plate 221C behind the printing station toengage and halt the leading end of the card that is to be printed with asignature or the like so that forward movement thereof momentarilyceases until after the trailing end of the rise 395K on the cam 395passes off the cam follower 510, whereupon the stop finger 490 is onceagain elevated by the spring 496. It will be appreciated that thealternate lowering and then raising of the stop finger 490 under controlof the cam 395 is a relatively rapid action, and during the time thatthe stop linger 490 is down, tension on the shaft 334U is relieved sothat in effect the positive or forced feed action on the card isdisrupted and the rollers 333U skid on the card engaged by the stopfinger 490 to bring this card into accurate alignment therewith.

'Once the stop finger 499 has been elevated, the spring 496 is againeffective on the shaft 334U, and the card that underwent alignmentcontinues to be in-fed in a positive manner by the feed rollers 333U and333L in the direction of the printing station afforded by the printingcylinder 360, bearing in mind that when the clutch 370 was engaged forone cycle to depress and then raise the stop finger 490 the driven shaft366 of the clutch continued to rotate for a full 360 cycle. Accordingly,after the card to be printed is released by the stop finger 496 theprinting cylinder 361i is effective on the downwardly disposed face ofthe card when passing over the opening 221A to print a signature or thelike in proper position on the card, for example adjacent to the nameand address threon which may be the name and address of a payee when theimprinted card is a check drawn on a bank. After the card as C has thusbeen printed with a signature or the like, the feed rollers 333U and333L are effective on the trailing end thereof to feed this card bearingan imprint on to the feed rollers as 350U which then pass the card intothe aforesaid final hopper. After the trailing end of the card passesbeyond the sensing finger 472 the latter is released to normal positionwithin the opening 221B and the switch SW is thereupon opened.

To enable the leading end of the card as momentarily halted by thedepressed stop finger 490 to be quickly released when the stop finger iselevated, a stripper 599, FIG. l, is afforded over the guide plate 221Cin advance of the stop linger 490. The stripper 509 is in the form of ablock of substantial width and length, and may be conveniently anchoredto the side edge of the guide plate 221C which is adjacent the rockshaft 495. There is clearance between the lower face of the stripper 590and the guide plate 221C enabling a card to pass therebeneath, and whenthe stop finger 490 is depressed the stripper 509 also prevents the cardundergoing alignment from buckling between the leading end thereofhalted by the depressed stop finger 490 and the portion adjacent thetrailing end engaged by the feed rollers 334U and 334L.

It will be manifest from the foregoing description that I have affordedan arrangement which will enable the above set forth and kindred objectsof this invention to be realized and while I have illustrated anddescribed the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to beunderstood that this is capable of variation and modification, and Itherefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth,but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fallwithin the purview of the following clairns.

I claim:

l. In a machine of the kind described adapted to handle businessinstruments or the like, a guideway along which the instruments are tobe passed lone by one, a normally inoperative printing means disposed inthe guideway to print each such instrument with data on one facethereof,

positive acting opposed feed rollers in the guideway to deliver saidinstruments to the printing means, a onerevolution clutch operative whenactuated to enable the printing means to drive, a solenoid effectivewhen energized to actuate said clutch, a control switch effective whenactuated to energize thesolenoid, a sensing element in said guideway toysense the passage of such an instrument in the direction of theprinting means and to thereupon actuate said switch enabling theprinting means to'drive, an elongated stop element between the sensingelement and the printing means operative when actuated to momentarilyhalt and eiect alignment of the instrument that was sensed prior to suchsensed instrument attaining printing position, and means controlled bysaid clutch when operative to actuate the Istop element and momentarilyto disrupt the positive action of the `feed rollers so that the'sen'sedinstrument may undergo alignment prior to attaining printing position.

2. in an apparatus of the kind described to which business instrumentsin the form of individual cards or the like are advanced in seriatim, aguideway along which such instruments may be advanced, printing meansassociated with said guideway for making impressions on instrumentsVadvanced thereto,.positive acting feed means for advancing an instrumentalong said guideway to the `printing means, means elective to arrest theadvance of an instrument to said printing means and to thereafterrelease the instrument for such advancement to the printing means,common driving means for effecting operation of said arresting andprinting means, and means responsive to the advancement of an instmmentto said arresting means for effecting a single cycle of operation ofsaid driving means and for interrupting the positive action of vadvancing instrumentsalong said guideway, printing means associated withsaid guideway for making impressions on instruments advanced thereto,means elective to arrest the advance of an instrument to said printingmeans and to thereafterrelease such instrument Vfor advancement to theprinting means, driving means Yactuated from said vfeeding means for.effecting operation of said arresting and printing means, and meansresponsive to the advancement of an instrument to said arresting meansfor effecting a single cycle of operation of said driving means and forreleasing the'tension on the idler rollers.

4. In an apparatus of' thekind described to which business instrumentsin the form of individual cards or the like are advanced in seriatim, aguideway along which such instruments mayj be advanced, constantlyoperative feeding meansrincluding positively driven feed rollers, idlerrollers tensioned against the first-named rollers for advancinginstruments along saidV guideway, printing 12 means associated with saidguideway for making impressions on instruments advanced thereto, meansincluding an elongated blade etective to arrest the advance of aninstrument to said printing means and to align and therefatter releasesuch ,instrument `for advancement to the printing means, driving meansfor effecting operation of said arresting and printing means andincluding a one revolution clutch having a driving element actuated`from said feeding means, instrument detecting means actuated by theadvancement of an instrument to said arresting means for effectingengagement of said clutch only upon actuation of the detecting means,and means for releasing Vthe tension on said idlers upon actuation ofsaid detecting means and while the instrument is undergoing alignment.

5. in an apparatus of the kind described to which business instrumentsin the form of individual cards or the like are advanced in seria-tim, aguideway along which such instruments may be advanced, constantlyoperative feeding means including positively driven Yfeed rollers, idlerrollers tensioned against the iirst-named rollers for advancinginstruments along said guideway,A printing means associated with saidguideway for making impressions on instruments advanced thereto, meanseffective to arrest the advance of an instrument to saidV printing meansand to align .and thereafter release such instrument for advancement tothe printing means, means for effecting Voperation of said arresting andprinting means and including Van electrically controlled one revolutionclutch having a driving element actuated from said feedingV means, camoperated means for effecting operation of said arresting means'andsimultaneously releasing the tension on the idler rollers, a detectingelement engage- References Cited in theV file of this Vpatent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 632,527 Hey Y Sept. 5, 1899 1,243,802 Boswell' u Oct. 13,1917 1,596,967 Hansen Aug. 274, 1926 2,360,174 Thatcher Oct. 10, 19442,389,891 Buddn v Nov. 27, 1945 2,539,382 Davidson Jan. 30, 19512,547,470 Janke Api. 3,' 1951 2,651,990 Iohnson j Sept. 15, 19532,693,357 Davidson 'Nov. 2, 1954 2,710,406 Gollwitzer June 7, 19552,756,673 George July 31, 1956 2,757,928 'Thomas Aug. 7, 1956 2,917,999Muller etal. Dec. 22, 1959 Y FOREIGN PATENTS 562,555 Germany Oct. 27,1932

